Scholarly record
ANTHROPOGENIC MICROLITTER IN BEACH-DUNE SYSTEMS AND DUNE VEGETATION: A REVIEW WITH A FOCUS ON THE BULGARIAN BLACK SEA COAST
Abstract
Plastic pollution is widely recognised as a pervasive anthropogenic pressure on coastal environments. Yet, beach-dune systems and dune vegetation remain considerably less studied than marine waters, beach sediments and aquatic biota. This paper presents a critical narrative review, supported by a spatial overview of the principal beach-dune systems along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast based on recent dune inventory, mapping and litter-assessment data, with particular emphasis on microplastics, their occurrence, transport pathways, retention by dune vegetation, ecological implications and regional conservation relevance. Relevant peer-reviewed studies were selected based on thematic relevance, methodological clarity, and applicability to supralittoral dune environments and the Bulgarian coastal setting. The evidence shows that beach-dune systems are dynamic interfaces where particles are deposited, fragmented, redistributed, retained by vegetation, buried, and remobilised. The review further indicates that dune vegetation performs a dual role, functioning both as a structural sink for retained particles and as a sensitive ecological receptor. Available experimental and field-based studies suggest that plastic-derived materials may affect plant germination, early development, rhizosphere bacterial communities and habitat functioning. For the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, the issue is of particular significance because dune systems combine high conservation value with growing anthropogenic pressure. The analysis identifies major knowledge gaps, including the lack of standardised field protocols, limited data on vegetation-retained and airborne particles, and insufficient integration of geomorphological, botanical and pollution-related evidence.
Publication details
References14
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